11 February 2012

Indraprastha Gas Ltd N: Volume risk to intensify HSBC Research,

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Indraprastha Gas Ltd
N: Volume risk to intensify
 IGL reported sequentially lower earnings in Q3 FY12 due to
higher gas cost
 Falling domestic production coupled with fully utilized
import capacity mean IGL will struggle to maintain volume
growth despite adequate demand
 We cut our TP from INR475 to INR366 on lower target
multiple and estimates, but retain our Neutral rating given
the recent correction in the stock
IGL reported a 10.5% q-o-q decline in net profit, lower than our and consensus
estimates. The sequential decline in net profit to INR691m (+3% yoy and decline of 10.5%
qoq) was caused by higher gas costs. Though IGL increased the price of compressed natural
gas (CNG) by 5.5% on 31 December 2011, the full impact will only be evident in Q4 FY12.
Gas costs increased by c16% sequentially, the majority of which was driven by rupee
depreciation (-11%), with higher usage of costlier LNG contributing to the remaining balance
(-5%). The company reported a gross margin of INR7.59/scm which was below its long-term
average of INR7.66/scm.
Benefit of price increase will flow in Q3. IGL increased its CNG price in Delhi by 5.5% on
31 December, the benefit of which will be fully felt in 4Q FY12. We believe this will help
restore the lost margin and we expect the company to earn INR7.92/scm margin for FY12. We
expect IGL to largely maintain a similar margin in FY13 as well.
Volume risk to intensify. We review volume and FX assumptions. In view of falling
domestic production and fully utilized import capacity, we believe IGL will struggle to
maintain its historical volume CAGR of c20%. We anticipate gas sales volume to grow at just
c9% in FY13 and FY14 (from 15% and 11% previously). While we have better visibility on
volume growth in FY13, growth in FY14 is less obvious and will largely depend on IGL’s
ability to lobby with central government to get a higher allocation of domestic gas. We
continue to believe that IGL has enough cushion to keep increasing retail prices to maintain its
margin. However, a recent move by the government to regulate marketing margin could
impact IGL’s margin adversely. Our exchange rate assumption goes to INR50 for FY13 from
INR45 previously.
Valuation and risk. We retain our Neutral rating but reduce our PE-based TP to INR366 from
INR475 as we now value the stock at 15x FY13e EPS of INR24.4 (from 17.5x previously).
The multiple reflects our lower assumed long-term growth rate of 9.5% (from 10%); 13.5%
WACC and a lower ROE of 24% (from 26%). This is in line with the multiple over the last 3
months. The biggest risk to our view is the increase in the cost of gas and an inability to pass
on the increased cost to consumers. A slowdown or increase in the pace of CNG vehicle
additions and PNG additions could also affect our estimates.

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